A safe place for the young to go in Kaitaia

PROGRESS: Te Hiku Hauora health promotion manager Cathy Murray-Cherrington has welcomed government funding for a drop-in centre to help reduce youth suicides in Kaitaia. PHOTO/ PETER JACKSON

Kaitaia teenager Caitlin Rose Johnson noticed a desperate need for a safe place for young people to gather in Kaitaia earlier this month (It doesn't need to be like this, September 6), as part of her response to the community's youth suicide rate.

And that is just what she and others of her generation are about to get.

Kaitaia's Te Hiku Hauora is looking to establish a safe space where youth can go to talk about their issues, or simply chill and have something to eat.

It's one of five youth suicide prevention programmes in Northland, which have received a share of $1.95 million in government funding allocated to similar projects across the country.

Te Hiku Hauora's health promotion manager, Cathy Murray-Cherrington, said she applied for the funding in April after attending a hui at Whangape, called by kaumatua after 11 people had died from suspected suicides in the area over the past 15 years.

Plans were still in the very early stages, however.

"It's got to be youth-led, for youth. We want to take it away from being clinical.

"It has to be accessible, a place where young people can go and talk to a kaumatua or kuia, where they can go in and there's food on the stove, that kind of place," she said.

The Kaitaia community had been called together by Kaitaia College student Nina Griffiths after she lost friends to suspected suicide, and Te Hiku Hauora had been working with Ms Griffiths on the drop-in centre, she said.

Ms Murray-Cherrington said while the $25,000, or 26 weeks of funding, had come at the right time.

There was a need for long-term funding of such projects.

"It's so important to have sustainability. We have to find accommodation, rent and power for the drop-in centre. The funding for the [current pop-up] youth centre has run out, and they're trying to keep it open," she said.

Meanwhile Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has described the projects that have been granted funding as urgently needed, given the high rates of Maori suicide.

Police have confirmed that five men aged between 17 and 25 were believed to have taken their own lives in Kaitaia in the space of 12 weeks.

"The suicide rates for our rangatahi are two and a half times higher than for non-Maori youth, so we need solutions that are tailored for Maori in the modern age," Mr Flavell said.

The provisional Northland suicide statistics for the year to June 2015 showed that of the 28 people who died, eight were Maori and five were aged 15 to 24.

Other organisations that are to receive funding for new projects include the Ngatiwai Trust Board, the Ngati Hine Health Trust, Playworks Productions and Rongomai Consultants.

Where to get help:

• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• Samaritans: 0800 726 666
• If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.